Post by Free Agent Fan on Apr 22, 2007 10:02:37 GMT -5
Freeze lose despite guarantee
Erie drops 8th straight; owner Hodas promises to fulfill free ticket claim
BY MIKE COPPER
mike.copper@timesnews.com
Published: April 22. 2007 6:00AM
Canton Legends linebacker Roosevelt Benjamin was held without a tackle in his first American Indoor Football Association game against the Erie Freeze.
But if Benjamin wasn't a factor in his return to Tullio Arena, JoJo Polk was.
Polk, the league's premiere defensive back, intercepted Freeze quarterback Randall Secky twice in Saturday's game. He made the second one with 12 seconds left, which clinched Canton's 48-44 victory before an announced crowd of 2,700.
Erie (1-9) drove from its 15-yard line in the final 1 minute, 21 seconds. On a first-down-and-10 play from the Legends' 13-yard line, Secky tried to connect with wide receiver Darmel Whitfield in the back right corner of Canton's end zone.
Instead, Polk stepped in front of Whitfield for his league-leading ninth interception.
"No. 9 (Whitfield) looked like he was running a deep route to the corner," said Polk, who also picked off Secky in the first quarter. "I was able to get underneath the route before the quarterback got the ball behind me."
Canton (6-3) took a knee on the final play and secured its share of second place in the AIFA's Northern Division. It was the Legends' first victory in four games at Tullio.
"It's frustrating right now because that team we just lost to was an average team," Freeze coach Dave Arnold said. "We were able to put pressure on (Canton quarterback Kevin) Mason, but they still made too many big plays."
Erie's eighth straight loss also was a costly one for Dave Hodas. The Erie Freeze owner guaranteed a victory against the Legends and all fans who attended would be eligible for a free ticket to a 2008 game if the Freeze lost.
Hodas promised to live up to his word.
"Absolutely," he said.
Canton scored the lone touchdown of the fourth quarter after 39 points were scored in the third. The Legends took the lead for good when Justin Stickley scored from 2 yards out on a draw play.
John McClain's extra point with 1:21 left gave Canton a four-point lead. It also forced Erie to score a touchdown rather than a field goal on its final drive.
The Freeze were called for roughing the kicker on McClain's extra point, which forced them to start at their 15 instead of the 20.
Erie later converted on fourth-and-6 at the Canton 21 when wide receiver Josh Liddell caught an 8-yard crossing pass from Secky. The Freeze called timeout at the Canton 13 with 19 seconds left.
Polk ended the drama on the next snap.
"At the timeout, I told (Secky) don't force the ball," Arnold said. "I don't know if he lost composure, but he forced it. It was only first down."
Polk's interception was the last of Erie's four turnovers. The Freeze were penalized 11 times, which included two yellow flags on their final drive.
"It's the same things that have been nagging us all season," Arnold said. "Bad snaps and illegal procedures take their toll."
Such undisciplined play was one of the reasons Benjamin requested a trade. The Central graduate was dealt to Canton for kicker J.R. Cipra on April 4.
Benjamin said he encountered little smack talk and didn't hold any ill will against his former teammates.
"None at all," he said. "This was a business move for me. This wasn't a great game for us, but I enjoyed it and I'm glad I played in it."
Canton's defense sacked Secky twice. Secky completed 14-of-33 attempts for 250 yards and threw two of his three touchdown passes to Whitfield.
Mason was an efficient 20-of-31 for 297 yards and five touchdowns. He was intercepted by Erie defensive back Brandon Jones on the first play of the fourth quarter.
MIKE COPPER can be reached at 870-1614 or by e-mail.
Erie drops 8th straight; owner Hodas promises to fulfill free ticket claim
BY MIKE COPPER
mike.copper@timesnews.com
Published: April 22. 2007 6:00AM
Canton Legends linebacker Roosevelt Benjamin was held without a tackle in his first American Indoor Football Association game against the Erie Freeze.
But if Benjamin wasn't a factor in his return to Tullio Arena, JoJo Polk was.
Polk, the league's premiere defensive back, intercepted Freeze quarterback Randall Secky twice in Saturday's game. He made the second one with 12 seconds left, which clinched Canton's 48-44 victory before an announced crowd of 2,700.
Erie (1-9) drove from its 15-yard line in the final 1 minute, 21 seconds. On a first-down-and-10 play from the Legends' 13-yard line, Secky tried to connect with wide receiver Darmel Whitfield in the back right corner of Canton's end zone.
Instead, Polk stepped in front of Whitfield for his league-leading ninth interception.
"No. 9 (Whitfield) looked like he was running a deep route to the corner," said Polk, who also picked off Secky in the first quarter. "I was able to get underneath the route before the quarterback got the ball behind me."
Canton (6-3) took a knee on the final play and secured its share of second place in the AIFA's Northern Division. It was the Legends' first victory in four games at Tullio.
"It's frustrating right now because that team we just lost to was an average team," Freeze coach Dave Arnold said. "We were able to put pressure on (Canton quarterback Kevin) Mason, but they still made too many big plays."
Erie's eighth straight loss also was a costly one for Dave Hodas. The Erie Freeze owner guaranteed a victory against the Legends and all fans who attended would be eligible for a free ticket to a 2008 game if the Freeze lost.
Hodas promised to live up to his word.
"Absolutely," he said.
Canton scored the lone touchdown of the fourth quarter after 39 points were scored in the third. The Legends took the lead for good when Justin Stickley scored from 2 yards out on a draw play.
John McClain's extra point with 1:21 left gave Canton a four-point lead. It also forced Erie to score a touchdown rather than a field goal on its final drive.
The Freeze were called for roughing the kicker on McClain's extra point, which forced them to start at their 15 instead of the 20.
Erie later converted on fourth-and-6 at the Canton 21 when wide receiver Josh Liddell caught an 8-yard crossing pass from Secky. The Freeze called timeout at the Canton 13 with 19 seconds left.
Polk ended the drama on the next snap.
"At the timeout, I told (Secky) don't force the ball," Arnold said. "I don't know if he lost composure, but he forced it. It was only first down."
Polk's interception was the last of Erie's four turnovers. The Freeze were penalized 11 times, which included two yellow flags on their final drive.
"It's the same things that have been nagging us all season," Arnold said. "Bad snaps and illegal procedures take their toll."
Such undisciplined play was one of the reasons Benjamin requested a trade. The Central graduate was dealt to Canton for kicker J.R. Cipra on April 4.
Benjamin said he encountered little smack talk and didn't hold any ill will against his former teammates.
"None at all," he said. "This was a business move for me. This wasn't a great game for us, but I enjoyed it and I'm glad I played in it."
Canton's defense sacked Secky twice. Secky completed 14-of-33 attempts for 250 yards and threw two of his three touchdown passes to Whitfield.
Mason was an efficient 20-of-31 for 297 yards and five touchdowns. He was intercepted by Erie defensive back Brandon Jones on the first play of the fourth quarter.
MIKE COPPER can be reached at 870-1614 or by e-mail.
